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What's the Pirate's Log?

It's a place for opinion. Opinions are like noses. Everybody's got one. Some are long and pointy. Some full of hot air. Some are full of other stuff. I'll tell you my opinion, but feel free to submit yours. If its sufficiently long and pointy or even if it's full of hot air, I'll publish it here. If its full of other stuff, I won't. Be sure to include your name. No anonymous log entries. Submit an entry here.

-- Tom

Pirate's Log, December 15, 2010

New Playoff Format: Four Teams Advance

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), the organization that govern school sports in Alabama, has changed the format for the 6A soccer playoffs. Starting this spring, four teams from each section will advance to the playoffs and the number of regular season games has been reduced to 18 from 20.

Fairhope High School is in 6A Section 2 along with Baldwin County HS, Daphne, Robertsdale, Foley, McGill & Satsuma. Last year's playoff teams were McGill & Daphne girls and Fairhope & Foley boys. Both Daphne and Fairhope advanced to Huntsville before being eliminated in the Semi Finals.

Across the bay is 6A Section 1 which includes Davidson, Murphy, Baker, MGM, Alma Bryant, Blount and Theodore.

The Fairhope boys have been to the playoffs each year since 2001, winning the section eight times since 2000. The Lady Pirates have missed the playoffs in recent years, but were regular fixtures in the playoff schedule from 2002 to 2008 until McGill was moved into 6A Section 2.

This new four team format will certainly help both Fairhope squads in their hunt for playoff berths and will open the doors for other teams as well.

On the girls side, look for Foley and Robertsdale to join Fairhope vying for the two new playoff spots while Daphne and McGill take the top two spots barring a meltdown. McGill girls welcome a new coach, Paul Knapstein, so changes may be in the wind. And we can't overlook a new addition to Fairhope girls coaching ranks as Bob Keyser switches genders to assist Coach Steve Morisani.

On the boys side, it should be very interesting. McGill has a new coach on the boys side, too. Ruben Risco, a former University of Mobile star and McGill alumnus, should bring a new style to the Yellow Jackets' sideline. Coach Risco was an assistant at St. Paul's last year and is a club coach for the Mobile Soccer Club. Daphne has added a new assistant coach, Travis Stone, former head coach at McGill, to their staff. Stone's experience should really help the development of future Daphne varsity players.

So, look for a five-way battle for boys playoff slots from Fairhope, Daphne, Foley, McGill and Robertsdale.

All in all, its shaping up to be another exciting spring of soccer on the Eastern Shore. And it will be here before we know it. See you at a game soon!

- Tom Sinclair

Pirate's Log, November 21, 2010

Who's The MoJo Behind the Teams?

Well, folks, another great season of Pirate Soccer is just around the corner. Coaches Stroud and Morisani have had their tryouts and made their roster choices. The much-loved "workouts" have begun. Both sides are looking forward to an exciting spring and a possible trip to Huntsville in May for the State Tournament.

But it's not just the players and the coaches working hard. There are other very important people in the Pirate Soccer family. Who could I possibly be thinking of, you wonder. Well, the players don't just fall out of the sky. It's the parents!

Parents are the behind-the-scenes strength of any school sports program. It's parents that work in the concession stand, man the gate and take tickets, make gameday lunches, drive POVs, sell sponsorships, hang banners, clean concession stands, work tournaments, take pictures, make popcorn, plan banquets, and ... much, much more. Whew! Truthfully, it takes hundreds, maybe even thousands of hours of volunteer support to make a top drawer program like Fairhope Pirate Soccer work.

A major part of the volunteer effort is towards fund raising. Last time I heard, it took over $40,000 to run the school soccer program. Uniforms, referees, buses, coach stipends, balls, training aids, keeper coach training, equipment, and more. That's why we run a concession stand, and run two tournaments, and seek sponsors. It's what's necessary to have a top notch program.

So, as the school soccer season approaches, and you're asked to help, dive in with both feet! The benefits are many: you'll make new friends, you'll help a great program and you'll have fun! And, you'll feel good!

Hope to see you in the concession stand in the Spring!

- Tom Sinclair

P.S. Looking forward to hearing from you... in the Pirate's Log.